How long have you worked at Microlise? 
I’ve worked at Microlise for 2 years and 3 months.
What is your job title?
Senior Business Analyst.
Which team do you work in?
I work in the Business Analysis Team as part of Product and Marketing.
What does your job entail?
I work with development teams and product management to keep our product’s moving along our roadmap. I’m also lucky enough to work alongside lots of our customers to understand what problems they face and what they see their real issues as being. They often dream of a problem free world and I need to get to the heart of the requirements, take them away and work with development teams to help achieve a perfect solution which solves their headaches!
It’s great to see our products in action, especially when you’ve had a part in creating them – it makes it all worthwhile and feel like you are making a difference to the wider logistics industry – not just the people you speak to. It’s not all plain sailing, we are often provided with solutions rather than requirements which means we need to dig a little deeper to understand what the real issues are to map the best solution – which is often not what was suggested. But that’s all part of the fun!
What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
Translating requirements to development teams and seeing them transform them into working software that will help our customers. To do this I often create storyboards, process flows and work with the user experience team to provide mock ups to help them visualise my requirements, which allows me to use my more creative side.
Which projects are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently working on the Microlise Camera Module which is really exciting. I am also working on the government projects we have which are researching low and zero emissions technologies for UK fleets. Last but not least I work with another development team to provide product changes and customer requirements.
Where have you worked before?
I previously worked at Boots for six years In HR/Recruitment and finally Boots IT. Prior to that I was an Assistant Manager at a bar/restaurant when I was 18 (and lived above it..perfect for an 18yr old!). I’ve been a Business Analyst for around four years now and have recently gained my BCS Diploma in Business Analysis. This consists of four modules and then a face to face exam which was the toughest interview I think I will ever do!
You are also Microlise’s Transaid Ambassador…what does that mean?
It means I’m a passionate supporter of Transaid and committed to their cause. I help make a difference by raising the profile of Transaid within Microlise and the wider logistics industry. I’ve done this in several ways over the last 12 months, the biggest being Cycle South Africa. However I have also supported them at the CV Show, Microlise Transport Conference and at the Motor Transport Awards. It also gave me the opportunity to meet Princess Anne and talk with her about Microlise’s involvement in the work Transaid does.
You are about to get married? Are you changing your name? Where’s your honeymoon going to be?
Yes I get married 2nd September 2017 after 18 long months of planning. I will be changing my name so I am soon to be the new Mrs Lylak! We are going to Jamaica for our honeymoon for some R&R but I’m looking forward to bob sledding down a mountain – Cool Runnings style!
Do you have any hobbies?
I guess cycling has become a big hobby with training for Cycle South Africa and now Cycle Zambia. It’s not something I overly enjoy but certainly summer training will be easier than last year’s winter training when I often got back with frozen water bottles. I also love going to gigs and try to get to as many as I can during the year (which can be very expensive). Busted are my guilty pleasure and I was so happy when they got back together.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
Teleportation! My family live dotted around the UK so travelling to see them always takes ages and we always get stuck in traffic jams – I’d love to be able to click my fingers and be in Wales/London/Newcastle/Scotland so I get to see my Niece’s and Nephew more often!
